Three Ways Technology for Seniors Can Support Independent Living

Never before has there been so much technology to help seniors live independently and manage their health successfully. Many older adults want to remain independent for as long as possible, and technology for seniors can tremendously help them maintain their independence.

Three areas of technology for seniors have huge potential for better health outcomes and safety, including emergency alert systems, medication dispensers, and health monitors.

Emergency Alert Systems

Whenever someone mentions technology to help seniors live independently, the first thing you may think about is emergency alerts or fall monitoring devices. These potentially life-saving devices are fantastic tools for senior adults living alone. They are incredibly important for getting a senior the help they need after an accident or while a medical event is happening.

However, when shopping for a device, it’s essential to understand exactly what it does. Some devices rely on a user to push a button to call for help, while others will summon help automatically. This is an important distinction since a senior could be knocked unconscious or immobile after a fall or stroke and be unable to call for help.

The Apple watch fall protection system is designed to detect a hard fall. After giving you an option to respond, it will automatically contact emergency personnel and emergency contacts if it gets no response.

Options that rely on the senior to summon emergency help include systems like Life Alert, which does not provide automatic emergency notifications but can provide additional safety. A senior can wear or wall mount a device with a button that allows them to call for help if needed.

Medication Dispenser

Medication dispensers can take the headaches and stress from remembering when and what medications to take. These devices provide audio and or visual reminders for when to take medication and dispense the right medications at the right time.

Best of all, this technology for seniors might be more affordable than you think. Aimed at helping seniors meet medication adherence goals, Medicare offers coverage for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) services. Most companies will help you determine if you have coverage.

With an option like Hero, you don’t own the device, and your cost is a monthly fee. You can also purchase your own device that can range from a smaller, lower-priced option to a larger, higher-cost option.

Technology for Seniors that Monitor Health

In the last few years, technology to help seniors live independently has opened up many possibilities for at-home health monitoring through the use of smartphone technology.

The Apple Watch and other wearable fitness trackers can monitor basic health functions like physical activity, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more.

Beyond basic health data, new technologies are allowing you to monitor health conditions from your home. Here are three options for monitoring that can connect to a smartphone:

  1. EKG-type monitors can be used right at home with devices like this one from KardiaMobile. This data can be shared virtually so your doctor can see your heart function without an office visit.
  2. For blood glucose monitoring, there are a variety of options like the Eversense that will send data directly to a mobile device. These devices eliminate the need for finger pricks and get data from a user’s device.
  3. The Prizma device is a smartphone case that conducts comprehensive health monitoring, including measuring blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, glucose level, and weight, as well as an ECG test that can detect more than 20 different types of arrhythmia.

Finding The Right Tools For Senior Adults Living Alone

Even though we mention some products by name, this blog isn’t intended to endorse any specific products for aging at home technology. Instead, we hope you’ll use these suggestions as starting points for your own research. With new technologies to support independent living, many senior adults will be able to confidently manage their health and stay safe in their own home.

Beyond technology, the support of caring professionals can also help a senior adult live independently. At Menno Haven, our non-medical in-home care can help you or your loved one with chores, errands, and other daily demands. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you.

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